Microbiology question

lol, this is our first problem and I'm already having trouble. I never really liked math

Anyway, the question goes like this: "A grenade containing one liter of Bacillus anthracis spores is detonated above a city of 10,000 residents, with an area of 1 km^2. Assume that the spores are evenly distributed, How many spores would be found in an area of 1 m^2? The spores diameter is 1 μm"

So, 1 liter is distributed over 1 km^2. I divide this by thousand, and I obtain that there's 1ml/1m^2. I know that B. anthracis spores arent spherical, but I don't know what else to do. So I assume that they are, calculate their volume (pi * 1μm)/6 ~ 0,52 μm^3

1 l = 1 mm^3. So, I convert the the volume to mm^3 (0,52μm * 10^-3= 5,2 * 10^-4 mm^3 ). Total volume/volume of spore = Number of spores. 1 mm^3/ 5,2 * 10^-4 mm^3 ~ 1923 spores/L. This means that 1 ml contains aproximately 2 spores This doesn't sound right

Do you agree with this method?

"What are the advantages and drawbacks of using B. anthracis as a biological weapon?".

Advantages:
Stable spores.
Aerobic organism (too obvious?)
High fatality when inhaled (~90%, IIRC?)

Drawbacks:
The BWC
Risk of ones allies getting infected.
Long term ecological disturbance (well, it is a drawback if it's an area you plan to conquer ).

Any suggestions?

"How could you maximise enemy casualties and minimize your own?"

Use a highly virulent strain like Ames or Vollum, perhaps even a genetically altered strain. Vaccinate ones own soldiers.

Suggestions?

[Edited on 4-4-2006 by Xque]

[Edited on 4-4-2006 by Xque]

Thanks. Didn't you forget to multiply by 4/3 in your calculations though? This will result in the same sporevolume as my calculations did.

Where's all the fancy molecular biologists when you need them?

[Edited on 5-4-2006 by Xque]